Field Hockey Loses 4-1 Decision to Villanova in BIG EAST Semifinal

Friday, November 4

Piscataway, N.J.

5:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

Villanova

Sophomore Jessica Lerew scored SU's lone goal against Villanova.

Field Hockey Loses 4-1 Decision to Villanova in BIG EAST Semifinal

11/4/2005 6:54:24 PM | Field Hockey

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – After trailing 1-0 at halftime, top-seeded Villanova (15-4) scored four unanswered goals in the second half to capture a 4-1 victory against fourth-seeded Syracuse in the semifinals of the 2005 BIG EAST Field Hockey Tournament at Rutgers University’s Stadium Complex. Junior forward Megan Foster scored twice for the Wildcats.

The Orange got on the scoreboard first when sophomore forward Jessica Lerew (York Springs, Pa./Bermudian Springs) made a diving play on a ball set up for her by junior Ashley Fry (Douglassville, Pa./Oley Valley) with 2:01 remaining in the first half. It was Lerew’s second goal of the season.

Foster tied the contest at 1-1 just 3:23 into the second period when she redirected a Lauren Campanelli shot into the goal.

Villanova took a 2-1 lead on its second penalty corner of the second half. Stephanie Campbell blasted a shot past SU freshman goalkeeper Heather Hess (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) with 17:59 remaining in the contest. Campanelli and Sara Schmidt assisted.

Almost four minutes later, Foster struck again, this time with a 10-yard shot from the left side of the circle that found the back of the cage and gave the Wildcats a 3-1 advantage.

SU had one penalty corner chance late in the game. Junior Michelle Sola’s (Blandon, Pa./Oley Valley) shot flew high and was stopped by the glove of Villanova goalkeeper Alex Whalen.

With less than two minutes to play, the Wildcats earned a penalty corner. Hess and Villanova senior Rory Rogers tried to jump on the rebound at the same time, but Hess took out the Villanova forward and the Wildcats were awarded a penalty stroke. With 1:11 remaining, Julia Noorduyn safely deposited her penalty stroke past Hess to seal Villanova’s 4-1 win.

Syracuse completed the 2005 campaign with an 11-9 record. Villanova moves on to play in Sunday’s BIG EAST Championship game against the winner of the Connecticut vs. Louisville semifinal. The title game will take place at noon on Sunday, Nov. 6.